Eddie Howe responds to Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo to Newcastle links

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The world is waiting for Newcastle United to make a marquee signing.

Despite the fact the PIF era has so far been dominated by astute additions in lieu of superstar arrivals, the rumour mill does not stop churning.

Indeed, in recent days, all of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have been linked with a move to St James’ Park.

That, frankly, goes with the territory.

Newcastle have made so much progress under Eddie Howe in such a short amount of time that they could soon be playing Champions League football which, theoretically, could open doors to signing players with that kind of profile.

Still, Howe has poured cold water over such suggestions.

Eddie Howe breaks silence on Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar transfer rumours

Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal, Howe was asked directly about the prospect of signing Ronaldo and Neymar.

In response, the Magpies boss said (via CBS Sports): ”That kind of speculation has been there from day one since the takeover, really. Naturally everyone has then assumed the biggest names in world football will be going to Newcastle.

“Now we’ve not recruited that way. Financially, we can’t recruit that way at the moment, but also we have to bring the right people and the right players into the group.

“I will say the transfer market is such a complex decision, you can’t just pick a name and bring them in. There’s got to be a lot of thought going into what we’re doing both financially and looking at the players.”

“Those two players are unbelievable players. We are linked with different names.

“I know what direction I want to take the team in and what we can and can’t do in the transfer market.”

Why would PIF change things now?

Signing either one of those players would stray so far from what the club have done in recruitment to date.

All of Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar look past their best, even if the latter isn’t quite as old as the other two.

With them and their surely gargantuan wages comes a media circus and the kind of ego not exactly fitting with the team spirit Howe has fostered at St James’ Park over the past 18 months or so.

Since the takeover, Newcastle’s story has been one of success. Built on a mandate of clever recruitment, changing that for the sake of signing a big name hardly seems worth it.